In her address at the IIEA, Mary Robinson discussed the struggle to secure global justice for those people most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and how the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals have renewed the international community’s commitment to ending poverty and increasing equality while protecting planetary resources.

Robert Watt, Secretary General Department of Public Expenditure & Reform

In his address, Minister Denis Naughten launched The Sustainable Development Goals: National Implementation Plan 2018-2020, which sets out how the Irish Government will implement the SDGs in Ireland and support countries around the world to do the same, particularly through the work of Irish Aid, Ireland’s programme for overseas development.

Dr Kharas addressed the major trends and forces in development and argued that aid agencies need to adapt to the changing world and that the old narrative of celebrating the huge gains in poverty reduction will not long hold up to the scrutiny of publics asking what good their tax dollars are doing today.

Commissioner Krähenbühl discussed the situation of Palestinian refugees and the contribution UNWRA has made to promoting stability in the region. The Commissioner stressed that in a world affected by many other armed conflict and crises, it is vital that the international community not forget the situation of Palestine refugees.

About Us

The IIEA is Ireland’s leading European & International Affairs think tank. We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.

Our role is to identify key European and international policy trends, which will inform the work of Ireland’s decision makers and business leaders, and enrich the public debate on Ireland’s role in the EU and on the global stage.